James e



Winsen AND RAYFORD McAn'Ai/i's, 'or ,MARSHFiELEMrsSQBL l ASSIGNORS 'ro-JAMES ngwrnsom-or- SAME rLAcnL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 71,900, dated January 1 1, 1876; application led September 21, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that we, JAMES E. WILSON and RAYFORD MGADAMS, of Marsheld, in the county of Webster and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Im- 'provements in Ghilds Rock Crib or Ura-dle;

and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing', and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to cradles provided with walkers, propelled by a spring-motor device attachedto'the end of the cradle.

Such devices have hitherto consisted of a single pivoted arm of two prongs, which are operated alternately -by an escapeinent or vergedevice, which receives motion from a clock-spring, and which operating upon the floor-arms, are alternately arrested by the verge, and thereby imparta rocking movement to the cradle.

In another plan vertical rods are employed in connection with a walking-beam, to which their upper ends are jointed, and which is operated by an arm, connected with and controlled by a crank put in motion by a clockspring, so as to maintain the Walking-rods in an'unbroken contact with the door.

Both these devices are constructed to oper- I ate near the center of motion, and therefore lose much of their leverage force.

We have improved these plans by having separate Walking-levers, pivoted near the extremities of one of the rockers, so as to bring their free ends to operate upon the door at the extremities of rocker, and combined with the inner ends of the levers, a double-cranked shaft, and the motor mechanism by means of separate connecting-rods, the advantage of which gives a much greater leverage to the walking-levers; .and to cause them to act with a more perfect balance and keep the cradle to its place, the separate levers are pivoted in the middle of their length, and the movement of their connectin g-rods beingequal, the leverage-power is exerted at the ends of the rocker, and just where it is required to produce the best effect in preserving a uniform movement of the cradle, and, by having a 'rolling purchase upon the iloor, prevent the cradle from moving about.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an end elevation of a cradle embracing my rocking devices, and Fig. 2 a vertical section of the motor mechanism'.

Pivoted upon projections a of the rockers A of the cradle are walkers or Walking-levers B,4

which connect at theiradjacent ends by connecting-rods b to the'motorv mechanism. The walkers and motor mechanism are only at one end of the cradle, preferably the foot, as the clicking of the cog-gearing is not then at all liable to disturb the sleeper. The connecting-rods b are bent, so as to pass each other freely, and to connect, at a suitable distance apart, each to its proper crank of a doublecranked shaft, c, which receives motion to drive these rods b from a small pinion, d, thereon, communicating with suitable clock mechanism- G, set in motion by a spring.

This mechanism is inclosed within a suitable case, and is wound up by a key.

In the example shown one of the cranks and its connecting-rod is outside of the case; but it is obvious that both could be easily made to connect inside this casing, which is open at the bottom to permit of the movements of the rods. It may, however, have'a closed bottom, with open ways for the rods.

In order to prevent the thumping sound which might be occasioned by the walkers B, we providethem, at the ends which touch the door, with rubber or rubber-bound rollers c.

These rubber rollers also add elasticity to the l stroke of the walker.

The walkers B, with their rollers e, being set in motion by the mechanismr described, strike yfirst upon one side of the cradle, then upon the other, and, their contact being yielding, no harsh movement is el'ected and the balance is perfect.' The cradle thus keeps its place, and does not move about, as do cradles whose rigid rockers receive a purchase from the door, the rollers e preventing such harsh contact by their constant motion.

We claim- 1.` frhpepame walkingflevera B B, pivod tostherocker in the middleof their length, to

bring their free ends in contact with the floor at or near the ends of the rocker, and combined with the double crankshaft'c and themotorV mechanism bythe separate crank-rods b b,`as

and forthe purpose set forth.

2. In a rocking cradleprovided with pivoted walkers B, the combination, with such walkers, of rubber or rubber-bound rollers e,

whereby the cradle is kept inits placea's set:` form.'v

In testimony that we claimthe foregoingwwe n have aixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses. l

\ JAMES WILSON. RAlYFORD MOADAMS. Witnesses:

J. C. SELLERS, `C. E. TBIPLETL 

